The Hannibal 8 Returns for 50th Anniversary of Great Race Movie

June 8, 2016

The Hannibal 8, star of the 1965 classic movie The Great Race, is making its way to San Rafael, California for the 50th anniversary showing of the film as part of the pre-race festivities for the 2016 Great Race. The movie will be shown at the historic Rafael Theater on Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael on Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. and Great Racers have been invited as special guests.

Also on hand will be the other star of the movie – the Leslie Special. Both are being loaned to the Great Race by Stahl Automotive Foundation and are being transported by Reliable Carriers, a major sponsor of the cross-country rally. The Leslie Special has been the official pace car of the Great Race since 2013 and will again be at every overnight promotion on the 2016 event.

In the movie, Tony Curtis – as The Great Leslie dressed in all white – drives the Leslie Special and Jack Lemmon – as Professor Fate dressed in all black – drives the Hannibal 8. They race from New York to Paris and high jinks ensue along the way. The green flag will drop to start the Great Race at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, in downtown San Rafael on Fourth Street between A and D streets.